Seal of the Prelature of Opus Dei and the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross
Part of the society is made up of the clergy of the Opus Dei prelature-members of the priesthood who fall under the jurisdiction of the Opus Dei prelature are automatically members of the Priestly Society. Other members in the society are traditional diocesan priests-clergy who remain under the jurisdiction of their diocesanbishop.[1] Technically speaking, such diocesan priests have not "joined" Opus Dei membership, although they have joined a society that is closely affiliated with Opus Dei.[2]
The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross was begun by St. Josemaría Escrivá on 14 February 1943, and received its first canonical approval a few months later. He was always concerned that his message of sanctification of ordinary work be transmitted also to the secular clergy. He even said that he was willing to leave Opus Dei, as Abraham offered up his son Isaac, to be able to help the clergy. But on February 14, 1943, he said he received an illumination from God on how to continue serving both the laity and the diocesan clergy.[3]
During Mass at the women's center of Opus Dei, he was shown the seal of Opus Dei and of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross: a cross embracing the world. He was also shown the juridical solution to put the two together. The priests would be part of a society united to Opus Dei, but the diocesan priests would continue to be priests of their dioceses, and thus there will be no conflict with the bishops.[4]
The first priests of the Priestly Society were the numerary members of Opus Dei, who as such are automatically members of the Society. The first three priests ordained as members of the Society were: Álvaro del Portillo, José Luis Muzquiz and José María Hernández Garnica.
The need for this type of association has been explained in the following way:
As many priests can testify, loneliness can be the most difficult Cross to embrace. However, there are remedies for loneliness, and priests are free to seek for that help upon which their happiness largely relies. Diocesan priests can certainly establish their own support groups for prayer, socializing, exercise, and relaxation. But normally that is not enough. In #29 of the DLMP, the document, echoing the Second Vatican Council (Presbyterorum ordinis, #8) and the Code of Canon Law (C 550, n. 2), highly praises “those associations which support priestly fraternity, sanctity in the exercise of their ministry, and communion with the Bishop and with the entire Church”.[5]
Establishment by Pope John Paul II
According to the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit issued by John Paul II: “From its beginnings, this (Opus Dei) has in fact striven, not only to illuminate with new lights the mission of the laity in the Church and in society, but also to put it into practice; it has also endeavored to put into practice the teaching of the universal call to sanctity, and to promote at all levels of society the sanctification of ordinary work, and by means of ordinary work. Furthermore, through the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, it has helped diocesan priests to live this teaching, in the exercise of their sacred ministry.”
Through this document, John Paul II, aside from erecting Opus Dei as a personal prelature, also erected the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross “as a priestly Association intrinsically united to the Prelature.” [6]
Composition
It is made up first of all of the clergy of the Prelature who are automatically members. Secondly, it is made up of diocesan priests, deacons, and bishops. Some Opus Dei members also serve as bishops in various dioceses throughout the world, including the United States, Europe, South America, Africa and China. The prelate of Opus Dei is the president of the society.
These diocesan clergy of the Priestly Society are not incardinated into the presbyterate of the Prelature. They depend solely on their bishop and receive spiritual help from the Society to fulfill their priestly duties well.
According to the Annuario Pontificio, there were 1996 priests of the Prelature in the year 2009. John Allen stated there were roughly two thousand diocesan priests who belonged to society who were not clergy of the prelature, thus the total membership of the society is around 4000 priests.
Formation
The priests are given the same formation as the lay faithful of Opus Dei. St. Josemaría always said that he has “the same cooking pot” for his children: classes on doctrine, ascetical formation, spiritual direction, recollections, retreats, etc.
Membership
There are around 4000 priests, bishops and deacons around the world who are members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross.[7]
As the official website explains: "Numerary and coadjutor members are drawn from the Prelature's lay faithful (Numeraries and Associates), who receive Holy Orders after the necessary preparation. They are incorporated into the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross upon their ordination as deacons.
Pope John Paul II. Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit Establishing the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei and the Vatican Declaration on Opus Dei
Pope John Paul II.
Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, St. Josemaría: God's Instrument for Opus Dei - statement of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on St. Josemaría and Opus Dei's message of sanctity
Escrivá, Josemaría. The Way, Furrow, The Forge, Christ is Passing By, Friends of God, Loyalty to the Church, Conversations with Msgr. Josemaría Escrivá, Scepter Publishers—the founder's teachings and explanations about Opus Dei; the most basic reference
Müller, Beat. —a basic text given to journalists
Shaw, Russel (1994). Ordinary Christians in the World --- from the Office of Communications, Prelature of Opus Dei in the US
Belda, M.; Escudero J.; Illanes, J.L. & O'Callaghan, P., eds. (1997). Holiness and the World: Studies in the Teachings of Blessed Josemaría Escrivá. Scepter Publications.—collection of contributions to a theological symposium; contributors include Ratzinger, del Portillo, Cottier, dalla Torre, Ocariz, Illanes, Aranda, Burggharf and an address by John Paul II ISBN1-890177-04-0
Berglar, Peter (1994). Opus Dei. Life and Work of its Founder. Scepter Publishers—in-depth historical study; available on-line
Fuenmayor, Amadeo; Gomez-Iglesias, Valentin & Illanes, Jose Luis (1996). The Canonical Path of Opus Dei. Four Courts Press. ISBN1-85182-221-6.—in-depth juridical study
Le Tourneau, Dominique (2002). What Is Opus Dei?. Gracewing. ISBN0-85244-136-3.—a basic text; a French scholar's synthesis
Rodriguez, Pedro; Ocariz, Fernando & Illanes, José Luis (1994). Opus Dei in the Church. Four Courts Press. ISBN1-85182-170-8.—in-depth ecclesiological study
Romano, Giuseppe (1995). Opus Dei: Who? How? Why?. Alba House. ISBN0-8189-0739-8.
Pakaluk, Michael (June 1978). "Opus Dei In Everyday Life". The Family.—a typical day in the life of a member of Opus Dei
Allen, John Jr. (2005). Opus Dei: an Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church, Doubleday Religion. ISBN0-385-51449-2 — book written after 300 hours of interviews by a journalist of National Catholic Reporter, a left leaning newspaper
Allen, John Jr. (2005). Opus Dei: An Introduction, , , Chapter 7: Opus Dei and Secrecy - 4 on-line excerpts from John Allen's Opus Dei
Allen, John Jr. (24 March 2005). "Decoding Opus Dei". An Interview with John Allen, by Edward Pentin. Newsweek. -- a short summary of his book
Allen, John Jr. (January 2006). . An Interview with John Allen, by John Romanowsky. Godspy.
External links
- central hub of internet sources
Priestly Society of the Holy Cross - Opus Dei website
"Priestly Society of the Holy Cross", Opus Dei Information Office
March 09, 2023
priestly, society, holy, cross, this, article, about, catholic, society, affiliated, with, opus, anglican, society, society, holy, cross, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliab. This article is about the Catholic society affiliated with Opus Dei For the Anglican society see Society of the Holy Cross This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Priestly Society of the Holy Cross news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross is an association of Catholic diocesan priests which is integrally united to the Prelature of Opus Dei Seal of the Prelature of Opus Dei and the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross Part of the society is made up of the clergy of the Opus Dei prelature members of the priesthood who fall under the jurisdiction of the Opus Dei prelature are automatically members of the Priestly Society Other members in the society are traditional diocesan priests clergy who remain under the jurisdiction of their diocesan bishop 1 Technically speaking such diocesan priests have not joined Opus Dei membership although they have joined a society that is closely affiliated with Opus Dei 2 Contents 1 Foundation and mission 2 Establishment by Pope John Paul II 3 Composition 4 Formation 5 Membership 6 See also 7 References 8 Sources 9 External linksFoundation and mission EditThe Priestly Society of the Holy Cross was begun by St Josemaria Escriva on 14 February 1943 and received its first canonical approval a few months later He was always concerned that his message of sanctification of ordinary work be transmitted also to the secular clergy He even said that he was willing to leave Opus Dei as Abraham offered up his son Isaac to be able to help the clergy But on February 14 1943 he said he received an illumination from God on how to continue serving both the laity and the diocesan clergy 3 During Mass at the women s center of Opus Dei he was shown the seal of Opus Dei and of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross a cross embracing the world He was also shown the juridical solution to put the two together The priests would be part of a society united to Opus Dei but the diocesan priests would continue to be priests of their dioceses and thus there will be no conflict with the bishops 4 The first priests of the Priestly Society were the numerary members of Opus Dei who as such are automatically members of the Society The first three priests ordained as members of the Society were Alvaro del Portillo Jose Luis Muzquiz and Jose Maria Hernandez Garnica The need for this type of association has been explained in the following way As many priests can testify loneliness can be the most difficult Cross to embrace However there are remedies for loneliness and priests are free to seek for that help upon which their happiness largely relies Diocesan priests can certainly establish their own support groups for prayer socializing exercise and relaxation But normally that is not enough In 29 of the DLMP the document echoing the Second Vatican Council Presbyterorum ordinis 8 and the Code of Canon Law C 550 n 2 highly praises those associations which support priestly fraternity sanctity in the exercise of their ministry and communion with the Bishop and with the entire Church 5 Establishment by Pope John Paul II EditAccording to the Apostolic Constitution Ut sit issued by John Paul II From its beginnings this Opus Dei has in fact striven not only to illuminate with new lights the mission of the laity in the Church and in society but also to put it into practice it has also endeavored to put into practice the teaching of the universal call to sanctity and to promote at all levels of society the sanctification of ordinary work and by means of ordinary work Furthermore through the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross it has helped diocesan priests to live this teaching in the exercise of their sacred ministry Through this document John Paul II aside from erecting Opus Dei as a personal prelature also erected the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross as a priestly Association intrinsically united to the Prelature 6 Composition EditIt is made up first of all of the clergy of the Prelature who are automatically members Secondly it is made up of diocesan priests deacons and bishops Some Opus Dei members also serve as bishops in various dioceses throughout the world including the United States Europe South America Africa and China The prelate of Opus Dei is the president of the society These diocesan clergy of the Priestly Society are not incardinated into the presbyterate of the Prelature They depend solely on their bishop and receive spiritual help from the Society to fulfill their priestly duties well According to the Annuario Pontificio there were 1996 priests of the Prelature in the year 2009 John Allen stated there were roughly two thousand diocesan priests who belonged to society who were not clergy of the prelature thus the total membership of the society is around 4000 priests Formation EditThe priests are given the same formation as the lay faithful of Opus Dei St Josemaria always said that he has the same cooking pot for his children classes on doctrine ascetical formation spiritual direction recollections retreats etc Membership EditThere are around 4000 priests bishops and deacons around the world who are members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross 7 As the official website explains Numerary and coadjutor members are drawn from the Prelature s lay faithful Numeraries and Associates who receive Holy Orders after the necessary preparation They are incorporated into the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross upon their ordination as deacons See also EditTypes of membership of Opus DeiReferences Edit The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross Raphael Caamano The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross Archived from the original on September 11 2006 Retrieved 2006 11 27 History of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross History of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross Catholic net Catholics on the net UT SIT THE APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION Pope John Paul II Eternal Word Television Network undated archvied version from June 15 2019 The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross Sources EditPope John Paul II Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit Establishing the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei and the Vatican Declaration on Opus Dei Pope John Paul II Christifideles Omnes Papal Decree on Escriva s Heroic Virtues Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins St Josemaria God s Instrument for Opus Dei statement of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on St Josemaria and Opus Dei s message of sanctity Escriva Josemaria The Way Furrow The Forge Christ is Passing By Friends of God Loyalty to the Church Conversations with Msgr Josemaria Escriva Scepter Publishers the founder s teachings and explanations about Opus Dei the most basic reference Muller Beat Opus Dei Information Handbook a basic text given to journalists Shaw Russel 1994 Ordinary Christians in the World from the Office of Communications Prelature of Opus Dei in the US Belda M Escudero J Illanes J L amp O Callaghan P eds 1997 Holiness and the World Studies in the Teachings of Blessed Josemaria Escriva Scepter Publications collection of contributions to a theological symposium contributors include Ratzinger del Portillo Cottier dalla Torre Ocariz Illanes Aranda Burggharf and an address by John Paul II ISBN 1 890177 04 0 Berglar Peter 1994 Opus Dei Life and Work of its Founder Scepter Publishers in depth historical study available on line Fuenmayor Amadeo Gomez Iglesias Valentin amp Illanes Jose Luis 1996 The Canonical Path of Opus Dei Four Courts Press ISBN 1 85182 221 6 in depth juridical study Le Tourneau Dominique 2002 What Is Opus Dei Gracewing ISBN 0 85244 136 3 a basic text a French scholar s synthesis Rodriguez Pedro Ocariz Fernando amp Illanes Jose Luis 1994 Opus Dei in the Church Four Courts Press ISBN 1 85182 170 8 in depth ecclesiological study Romano Giuseppe 1995 Opus Dei Who How Why Alba House ISBN 0 8189 0739 8 Pakaluk Michael June 1978 Opus Dei In Everyday Life The Family a typical day in the life of a member of Opus Dei Allen John Jr 2005 Opus Dei an Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church Doubleday Religion ISBN 0 385 51449 2 book written after 300 hours of interviews by a journalist of National Catholic Reporter a left leaning newspaper Allen John Jr 2005 Opus Dei An Introduction Chapter I A Quick Overview Chapter 4 Contemplatives in the Middle of the World Chapter 7 Opus Dei and Secrecy 4 on line excerpts from John Allen s Opus Dei Allen John Jr 24 March 2005 Decoding Opus Dei An Interview with John Allen by Edward Pentin Newsweek a short summary of his book Allen John Jr January 2006 Unveiling Opus Dei An Interview with John Allen by John Romanowsky Godspy External links EditOpus Dei Blogs central hub of internet sources Priestly Society of the Holy Cross Opus Dei website Priestly Society of the Holy Cross Opus Dei Information Office Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Priestly Society of the Holy Cross amp oldid 1107200004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
